Social Media Desk

ISLAMABAD: At the 2025 Emmy Awards, several high-profile celebrities used their platform to bring attention to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, marking a shift in how award shows are viewed today.&nbsp;Hannah Einbinder, who identifies as a Jew, faced backlash from parts of the Jewish community after her Emmy acceptance speech, where she said: &#39;Go Birds, f*** ICE, and free Palestine.&#39; She was also seen wearing the Artists4Ceasefire pin. Although part of her statement was censored during the broadcast, it quickly went viral.&nbsp;&nbsp;Einbinder&#39;s comments divided the internet, with one side supporting her stance and the other denouncing it.&nbsp;Carrie Courogen wrote &lsquo;Obsessed with Hannah Einbinder knowing her angles and letting the camera get her Artists4Ceasefire&nbsp;pin&rsquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 543px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1967385108232778080&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=90bd5814555f32dc0ecc639ce10ad0d9f363f063&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1967385108232778080">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Javier Bardem, on the red carpet, wore a keffiyeh and voiced his strong stance on Gaza, calling the situation a &ldquo;genocide.&rdquo; His comments during interviews emphasized the importance of taking a stand and calling for action.&nbsp; Antifa_Ultras shared Javier Bardem&rsquo;s statement, where he said, &#39;Free Palestine&#39; and &#39;I can&#39;t work with any film or TV company that justifies or supports the genocide.&rsquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1967379341433766065&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=90bd5814555f32dc0ecc639ce10ad0d9f363f063&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1967379341433766065">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Criticizing Hannah,&nbsp;Kevin Vuong stated, &lsquo;If you&rsquo;re wondering what Hannah Einbinder&rsquo;s red pin is all about, it&rsquo;s glorifying terrorist Aziz Salha, whose hands were bloodied from lynching two Israelis.&rsquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other notable figures, including Meg Stalter, Natasha Rothwell, and Aimee Lou Wood, wore the Artists4Ceasefire pin, signaling their solidarity with Palestine. Stalter also carried a purse with the word &ldquo;Ceasefire&rdquo; emblazoned across it, reinforcing her message of peace. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-5" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 552px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-5&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1967359999631581623&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=90bd5814555f32dc0ecc639ce10ad0d9f363f063&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1967359999631581623"></iframe></div></div> These moments show how the Emmys, traditionally a celebration of entertainment, are becoming platforms where stars feel a duty to speak out on urgent global issues. Through gestures, words, and fashion, celebrities leverage their visibility to raise awareness for causes that might otherwise go unnoticed, showing how entertainment and activism can work together.

Megan Stalter holds a bag with a "Cease fire" message as she poses on the red carpet at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 14, 2025. REUTERS/Daniel Cole

Viral

 At the 2025 Emmy Awards, several high-profile celebrities used their platform to bring attention to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Palestine at the Emmys: When Entertainment meets Activism 

ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented display of digital democracy, Nepal&rsquo;s Gen Z used Discord, a platform originally designed for gamers, to elect an interim prime minister amid political instability.&nbsp;With traditional political institutions in gridlock and mass protests erupting across the country, over 10,000 young Nepalis gathered online to nominate candidates, engage in live debates, and cast votes for a new leader.&nbsp;The result: Sushila Karki, a former Supreme Court Chief Justice known for her anti-corruption record, was chosen to lead the country until general elections scheduled for March. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 576px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1966577915220435453&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4586e0f78a0b0a7b5ce22e8cfb5d98680230f151&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;What is Discord?Discord is a free messaging and voice-chat platform that allows users to join &ldquo;servers&rdquo;&mdash;online communities with text, audio, and video channels. Though originally popular among gamers, it has expanded to host communities of artists, students, activists&mdash;and in this case, political organizers.&nbsp;In Nepal, the platform became a digital parliament. The activist group Hami Nepal created a public server titled Youth Against Corruption, where thousands of young people gathered to deliberate.&nbsp;As the server filled, the debates and voting process were also livestreamed on YouTube, reaching thousands more across the country.&nbsp;How it workedParticipants nominated five candidates, questioned protest leaders in real time, and set up fact-checking channels to fight misinformation. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1141px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1966765710904029204&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4586e0f78a0b0a7b5ce22e8cfb5d98680230f151&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The platform, recently banned by the Nepali government along with YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, quickly became a symbol of digital resistance and innovation among the country&rsquo;s youth.&nbsp;&ldquo;Many of us didn&rsquo;t even know what it meant to dissolve parliament or form an interim government,&rdquo; said Regina Basnet, a 25-year-old law graduate. &ldquo;But we were asking questions and learning together.&rdquo;&nbsp;Symbolic vote with real questionsWhile the effort was widely praised as revolutionary, it also raised concerns. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1965680941965475876&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4586e0f78a0b0a7b5ce22e8cfb5d98680230f151&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 594px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=true&id=1966595947124695484&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4586e0f78a0b0a7b5ce22e8cfb5d98680230f151&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> What about those without internet access? How secure is online voting? Who moderates and verifies these digital spaces? <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 670px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1965700822089793735&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4586e0f78a0b0a7b5ce22e8cfb5d98680230f151&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Though unofficial, the election has attracted international attention for its scale, organization, and the youth-driven demand for accountability.&nbsp;Future of political participation?Whether symbolic or a sign of things to come, Nepal&rsquo;s Discord-based election may offer a glimpse into a new form of civic engagement, one that&rsquo;s digital, decentralized, and driven by younger generations.&nbsp;As one moderator said anonymously: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not perfect, but at least it&rsquo;s participation. That&rsquo;s more than what we were getting before.&rdquo;

Over 10,000 young Nepalis used Discord to debate and elect Sushila Karki as interim prime minister, showcasing digital democracy during a national political crisis.

What is Discord, the gaming app Nepal’s Gen Z used to elect their interim PM?

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A Hindutva gathering in Kodagu district of Indian State of Karnataka &nbsp;was flagged by rights watch Clarion India on Sunday. The event triggered outrage after videos circulated online showed speakers urging Hindus to boycott Muslim businesses, in the latest incident to spotlight concerns over rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in India.&nbsp; The gathering, held in Napoklu on April 1 under the banner of &quot;Hindu Raksha Samiti&quot;, was described by organizers as an &ldquo;awareness drive&rdquo;.&nbsp; However the &quot;No Muslims allowed&quot; banner at the entrance and hate speeches calling on attendees to avoid trade with Muslims and other non-Hindus, drew sharp criticism.&nbsp; According to Clarion India, speakers at the event invoked terms such as &ldquo;love jihad,&rdquo; &ldquo;land jihad&rdquo; and &ldquo;economic jihad,&rdquo; and those present were asked to take a pledge not to engage in commercial dealings with Muslims.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2042886052050821226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=df1af13ac48c3eb4ff9e018d480fbebacb50aae5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 743px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2042886052050821226"></iframe></div></div>Community members said such calls could damage livelihoods in an area where many families depend on small businesses and daily trade.&nbsp; One organizer, Kukkera Ajith, was quoted as saying the meeting was intended to raise awareness after a recent local attack on a Hindu man.&nbsp;The controversy comes against a wider backdrop of growing concern over Islamophobia in India.&nbsp; Hate speech in IndiaIn January, international media reported that anti-minority hate speech in India rose by 13% in 2025, citing data from India Hate Lab, a project of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH).&nbsp; The report documented 1,318 incidents, up from 1,165 in 2024, with 1,289 of those speeches targeting Muslims either explicitly or alongside Christians.&nbsp; The majority of incidents occurred in states ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its allies.&nbsp; CSOH&rsquo;s 2025 report said hate speech in India continued to rely heavily on Hindu nationalist tropes portraying Muslims as outsiders and as an existential threat, often through conspiracy narratives built around various forms of &ldquo;jihad.&rdquo;&nbsp; Researchers also identified a sharp surge in such speeches during moments of political and communal tension.&nbsp; As of now, no public statement from the Kodagu district administration or police has come forward in connection with the Napoklu speeches.&nbsp; The episode has renewed demands from local residents and activists for legal action, with critics warning that calls for a Muslim boycott risk deepening communal divisions in a state long seen as socially diverse and commercially interdependent.&nbsp;

India

A Karnataka gathering urging Hindus to boycott Muslim businesses has sparked outrage in India, with critics warning it reflects deepening Islamophobia and a wider rise in anti-Muslim hate speech.

Anti-Muslim boycott call at Karnataka event stirs outrage in India

HONG KONG: Oil prices surged and stocks sank Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, adding to fears of energy supplies from the Middle East. Negotiations in Islamabad at the weekend fell apart with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance blaming Iran&#39;s refusal to give up its nuclear program and Tehran hitting out at &quot;maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade&quot;. The news dealt a blow to hopes for an end to the six-week conflict, which has sent crude prices soaring, pushing inflation up and sending shivers through the global economy. Oil prices which tumbled last week after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire jumped around eight percent Monday, with both contracts topping $100 a barrel. Equities fell across Asia, with Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul off at least one percent, while Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Jakarta were also down. In a lengthy social media post, US President Donald Trump said his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping. But he said that Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the waterway through which a fifth of global oil and gas usually passes. &quot;Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; Trump wrote on Truth Social. &quot;Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!&quot; He said the blockade would only apply to vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports. The US military said Sunday it will blockade all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT, effectively seizing control of maritime traffic. Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards said its security forces had full control over the strait and warned enemies would be trapped in a &quot;deadly vortex&quot; in case of any &quot;wrong move&quot;. Iran&#39;s navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump&#39;s threat &quot;ridiculous and funny&quot;, according to state TV. After the talks the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution Vance said Washington had made Tehran its &quot;final and best offer,&quot; adding: &quot;We&#39;ll see if the Iranians accept it.&quot; Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the rivals had been &quot;inches away&quot; from a deal, writing on X that &quot;Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war&quot;. But he added &quot;we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade&quot;. Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at the Center for International Research at Sciences Po in Paris, warned that a US blockade was &quot;not a minor coercive signal&quot; but would rather be considered an effective resumption of the war. Fawad Razaqzada, a market analyst at <a data-fr-linked="true" href="//Forex.com" id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">Forex.com</a> said: &quot;The fundamental issue remains trust or rather, the lack of it between two long-standing adversaries who still appear some distance from common ground.&quot; Investors are also keeping an eye on attempts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he was pushing to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces. &quot;We will continue to work to stop this war, to ensure the Israeli withdrawal from all our lands, the return of all the prisoners, to rebuild our destroyed villages and towns, and the safe return of the displaced,&quot; Salam said. The prospect of the Middle East crisis continuing for the foreseeable future ramped up inflation fears and weighed on gold amid expectations interest rates would be kept elevated. Data Friday highlighted the impact of the conflict on prices, with the US consumer price index spiking at 3.3% in March, its highest since May last year. Key figures at around 0230 GMT West Texas Intermediate: UP 8.0% at $104.33 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 6.9% at $101.73 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0% at 56,357.40 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.0% at 25,627.75 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1% at 3,981.08 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1686 from $1.1728 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3401 from $1.3463 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.67 yen from 159.19 yen Euro/pound: UP at 87.20 pence from 87.11 pence

A stockbroker walks past share prices on a digital board during a trading session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi

Business

Oil prices jumped and global markets fell after Donald Trump announced a Strait of Hormuz blockade following the collapse of US–Iran talks.

Oil surges, stocks fall as Trump says to blockade Strait of Hormuz

Romesa Umar

Pakistani defender Kayla Siddiqui is chasing her professional dream while proudly representing her roots on the international stage.&nbsp; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">On the sidelines of the FIFA event in Abidjan, she opened up about her journey from growing up inspired by Sydney Leroux to now wearing Pakistan&#39;s colors.&nbsp; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">&quot;Keep putting Pakistan on the map and making a big name for itself&quot; is the mission she has set for herself.&nbsp;

Shorts

Pakistani Kayla Siddiqui is chasing her professional dream while proudly representing her roots on the international stage; the defender opens up about her journey from growing up inspired by Sydney Leroux to now wearing Pakistan's colors. 





'I have it rooted in my name': Pakistani defender on identity and representing her nation at FIFA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Sunday underscored that the two critical long-term challenges facing Pakistan were population growth and climate change.&nbsp; The finance minister departed for the United States to participate in the World Bank Group&ndash;IMF Spring Meetings 2026, scheduled to be held in Washington, DC from April 13 to 18, 2026, where he is set to meet senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) leadership and discuss the country&rsquo;s macroeconomic outlook, reform progress, and future cooperation on his Washington trip.&nbsp; While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, the finance minister emphasized that sustained economic progress would not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, and highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation. According to a statement issued on the Ministry of Finance&rsquo;s X account, the finance minister acknowledged that further work was required in areas such as regulatory reform and ease of doing business, noting that these remain key priorities for improving the investment climate. The minister reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to structural reforms, including taxation, which has shown progress but remained below desired levels. He highlighted the ongoing transformation efforts within the Federal Board of Revenue, further emphasizing the need to move away from a model of perpetual subsidies for industry, advocating instead for competitiveness and export-led growth.&nbsp; The minister also highlighted the trade liberalization measures, including tariff rationalization, aimed at encouraging efficiency and integration into global markets. According to the finance minister, Pakistan&rsquo;s solar generation had reached approximately 8,000 megawatts. He underscored the government&rsquo;s ambition to significantly increase the share of renewables in the energy mix over the coming decade. The session was moderated by former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Reza Baqir, and included&nbsp;panelists such as Princeton University&#39;s Professor Atif Mian and Nobel Laureate and Massachusetts Institute of Technology&#39;s Professor Daron Acemoglu.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Climate & Environment

While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, finance minister emphasizes sustained economic progress will not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, while also highlighting Pakistan’s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation.

At Harvard, Pakistan's finance chief highlights population, climate as key future challenges

BUDAPEST: Viktor Orban, who has ruled Hungary for 16 years as a self-described &quot;thorn&quot; in the EU&#39;s side and a defender of &quot;illiberal democracy,&quot; on Sunday conceded defeat to conservative Peter Magyar, who won a thumping majority in parliamentary elections. Orban&#39;s defeat, in a vote that saw a record turnout, dealt a heavy blow to nationalists. It also deprives Russian President Vladimir Putin of his most sympathetic ear inside the European Union. Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters of Magyar&#39;s Tisza party cheered the results outside the party&#39;s election headquarters on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, waving Hungarian flags and dancing, as car horns sounded in the capital. &quot;I feel fantastic!&quot; Zoltan Sziromi, a 20-year-old student, celebrating in the crowd, told AFP. &quot;We&#39;ve finally got rid of that system, and it was about time.&quot; Magyar, who arrived waving the Hungarian flag, told the cheering crowd that voters had &quot;liberated Hungary,&quot; calling his party&#39;s win a &quot;miracle&quot; in the central European country of 9.5 million people. &quot;Today, the Hungarian people have said &#39;yes&#39; to Europe,&quot; the 45-year-old former government insider and political newcomer told supporters. He promised to &quot;restore the system of checks and balances..., guarantee the democratic functioning of our country&quot; and put Hungary &quot;back on track.&quot; Acknowledging it was an &quot;enormous&quot; task, he called for unity, saying the victory belonging to &quot;all Hungarians.&quot; &#39;Unambiguous&#39;&nbsp;With 98.15% of precincts counted, Tisza secured a two-thirds majority with 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament on 53.6% of the vote, according to official election results. Orban&#39;s Fidesz took 55 seats on 37.9% of the vote. Earlier Sunday, Orban, 62, conceded defeat. &quot;The election results, though not yet final, are clear and understandable; for us, they are painful but unambiguous,&quot; Orban, 62, told reporters. &quot;We have not been entrusted with the responsibility and opportunity to govern. I congratulated the winning party,&quot; he said. Turnout in the election reached a record 79.50%, according to the near-complete vote count. Orban, who was seeking a fifth straight term, has transformed his country into a model of &quot;illiberal democracy,&quot; clashing with Brussels over rule-of-law issues, as well as over support for war-torn Ukraine. Magyar burst onto the scene just two years ago, promising to fight corruption and offering better public services. He drew support against a backdrop of economic stagnation, and despite an electoral system skewed in favor of Orban&#39;s Fidesz party. Congratulations for Magyar poured in from around Europe, with France and Germany urging him to work together for a &quot;strong Europe.&quot; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to work with Magyar &quot;for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe.&quot; &quot;Hungary has chosen Europe,&quot; head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, posted on X. Ahead of the vote, both Orban&#39;s and Magyar&#39;s camps had alleged foreign interference during the campaign. &#39;Defeat for authoritarianism&#39;&nbsp;Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, said Oran&#39;s defeat was a major blow to those who have looked to Viktor Orban&#39;s corrupt model as a blueprint. &quot;This is a resounding defeat for authoritarianism that echoes far beyond Hungary&#39;s borders,&quot; Tanden added. Orban had focused on making Ukraine the central topic of his campaign, portraying the neighboring country, which is fighting off a Russian invasion, as &quot;hostile&quot; to Hungary. He had also vowed to continue his crackdown against &quot;fake civil society organizations, bought journalists, judges (and) politicians.&quot; Fidesz supporters gathered for the results-watching event in Budapest were stunned. &quot;I am a Fidesz supporter with all my heart,&quot; Juliana Varga Szabo, a 58-year-old teacher, told AFP, tears in her eyes, saying that perhaps she had been living in a &quot;bubble.&quot; &quot;Now that bubble is burst. I won&#39;t change my values. We&#39;ll just have to see what the future brings,&quot; she added.

Europe

Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters of Magyar's Tisza party cheer results outside the party's election headquarters on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, waving Hungarian flags and dancing, as car horns sounded in the capital.



Orban loses Hungary vote to pro-Europe newcomer after 16 years in power

Web Desk/AFP

This live blog follows updates for Day 45 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 44, go&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-44" style="color:#0073e6;">here</a>.<hr style="line-height: 2;"><ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">US-Iran talks in Islamabad conclude after extensive discussions on multiple critical issues</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">President Trump orders naval blockade of Iranian ports, heightening tensions in the Strait of Hormuz</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iranian officials insist diplomacy continues, stressing negotiations require serious good faith and respect for rights</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Oil prices surge above $100, reflecting market reaction to Middle East hostilities and strategic uncertainty</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iran emphasizes restoring refining and distribution facilities to 70-80% of prior capacity within two months.</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;"> Russia ready to assist in peace efforts, Putin tells Iran presidentPublished: April 13, 2026 | 05:47 GMT | By Web Desk In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his Russian counterpart reviewed the latest status of the ceasefire in the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and the negotiation process in Pakistan, expressing their views on ways to strengthen stability and security in the region, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported. Quoting Sputnik, the Iranian news agency reported the Iranian president pointed to the Pakistani-mediated negotiations between Iran and the US, held in Islamabad on April 11, and expressed appreciation for Russia&#39;s principled stance. Pezeshkian also thanked Moscow for its humanitarian assistance and congratulated the Russians on Easter. President Putin emphasized that Russia is ready to help the political and diplomatic settlement of dispute surrounding Iran, the report said.<hr> IRGC: Military vessels approaching Strait of Hormuz &#39;a violation of ceasefire&#39;Published: April 13, 2026 | 05:45 GMT | By Web Desk &ldquo;The IRGC Navy announces that contrary to the false claims made by some enemy officials, the Strait of Hormuz is under smart control and management and is open to the safe passage of civilian vessels, in compliance with specific regulations,&rdquo; the IRGC said in a statement published by Iranian Tasnim News Agency. The IRGC at the same time warned that military vessels that intend to approach the Strait of Hormuz under any title or pretext will be considered as a ceasefire violation and will be dealt with severely, the report said.<hr> Economic shock from US-Israel war in Mideast already &#39;large&#39;, says IMF chief&nbsp;Published: April 13, 2026 | 05:37 GMT | By Web Desk The International Monetary Fund (IMF)&#39;s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the economic shock from the war in the Middle East is already &ldquo;large&rdquo; and &ldquo;it is global.&rdquo;She said this at CBS News&#39; program &quot;Face The Nation&quot;.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2043350955379343391&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=734d9e02d4375f669acedc1b0b4b236f81232029&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;Everybody uses energy. Everybody feels the pinch of prices going up,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp; &ldquo;If you are in the vicinity of the conflict, it&#39;s a big hit on you. If you are an oil importer, it is a big hit on you.<hr> Trump says &#39;not a big fan&#39; of Pope Leo after his anti-war messagePublished: April 13, 2026 | 04:13 GMT | By AFP US President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he is &quot;not a big fan&quot; of Pope Leo XIV, after the global leader of Catholics made a plea for peace. &quot;I&#39;m not a big fan of Pope Leo. He&#39;s a very liberal person, and he&#39;s a man that doesn&#39;t believe in stopping crime,&quot; Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. He accused the pontiff of &quot;toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon.&quot; On Saturday, the 70-year-old American pope publicly implored leaders to end the violence, telling worshippers at St. Peter&#39;s Basilica: &quot;Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!&quot; Trump reiterated his comments to reporters with a post on Truth Social saying: &quot;I don&#39;t want a Pope who think it&#39;s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.&quot;<hr> UK will not join Trump&#39;s blockade of Iran&#39;s ports in the Strait of HormuzPublished: April 13, 2026 | 03:32GMT | By Web Desk The UK will not be involved in enforcing the US military blockade of Iran, the BBC reported. A spokesperson for the UK government said: &quot;We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home.&quot; <hr> Death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon rises to 2,055Published: April 12, 2026 | 02:28GMT | By Web Desk Lebanon&rsquo;s Ministry of Health says the death toll since the start of the Israeli offensive on March 2 has now risen to 2,055 people, Al Jazeera reported. It said at least 6,588 others have been wounded. <hr> Trump says doesn&rsquo;t care if Iran comes back to talksPublished: April 12, 2026 | 02:28GMT | By AFP President Donald Trump said he does not care if Iran comes back to negotiations with the United States after talks in Pakistan concluded. &quot;I don&#39;t care if they come back or not. If they don&#39;t come back, I&#39;m fine,&quot; Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, upon his return from Florida. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> US oil benchmark jumps 8%, surpasses $100 after US-Iran talks in IslamabadPublished: April 12, 2026 | 23:28GMT | By AFP The US oil benchmark rebounded above $100 a barrel after peace talks between the United States and Iran concluded, and with US President Donald Trump ordering a blockade of Iranian ports. Shortly after trading began, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery rose around 8% to $104.50, while June delivery of international benchmark Brent rose 7% to $102. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Iran says was &#39;inches away&#39; from deal with US in IslamabadPublished: April 12, 2026 | 22:35GMT | By AFP Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran had been just &quot;inches away&quot; from a deal with Washington during weekend talks with the United States in Islamabad. &quot;Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war,&quot; he said in a post on X. But when &quot;just inches away&quot; from an agreement in Islamabad, &quot;we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade,&quot; he added. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> US military says to begin blockade of all Iran ports at 1400 GMT MondayPublished: April 12, 2026 | 21:35GMT | By AFP The US military announced it will begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT, and will allow ships not coming or going to Iran to pass through the critical Strait of Hormuz. &quot;The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,&quot; US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X on Sunday. &quot;CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports,&quot; it added, appearing to walk back President Donald Trump&#39;s earlier post in which he said &quot;any and all Ships&quot; would be blocked. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Iran navy chief calls Trump threat to block Hormuz strait &#39;ridiculous&#39;: state TVPublished: April 12, 2026 | 21:23GMT | By AFP Iran&#39;s navy chief Shahram Irani on Sunday called US President Donald Trump&#39;s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz &quot;ridiculous,&quot; after marathon talks between Tehran and Washington in Pakistan could not deliver a deal to end the Middle East war. &quot;The brave men of the naval force of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran are monitoring and supervising all the movements of the aggressive American army in the region. The threats of the US president to blockade Iran at sea ... are very ridiculous and funny,&quot; he said, according to state TV.

Americas

Middle East

A spokesperson for the UK government said: 'We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home.'

UK will not join Trump's blockade of Iran's ports in the Strait of Hormuz

&nbsp;Romesa Umar from Pakistan TV Digital sits down with Pakistani footballer Nadia Khan behind the scenes of Pakistan&#39;s historic women&#39;s FIFA debut in the Ivory Coast. Nadia talks about her love for the game, the footballers who inspire her, what sets her apart on the pitch, and what she is working toward in the year ahead.

Nadia talks about her love for the game, the footballers who inspire her, what sets her apart on the pitch, and what she is working toward in the year ahead.

Neymar and a dream: Meet Pakistan’s Nadia Khan post-historic FIFA debut

Faraz Saeed

The Islamabad Talks were a breakthrough, but diplomacy takes time. US and Iran delegations were brought to the table, the ceasefire holds, and the process of building a durable peace through dialogue continues. Here is where the process stands and what comes next.

Islamabad Talks process continues — Here's how

For 65 years, Rafiq Sweets has stood deep inside old Lahore, crafting its signature Khoye-wali Barfi from pure milk and desi ghee slow-cooked, unchanged, and unmistakable.

For 65 years, Rafiq Sweets has stood deep inside old Lahore, crafting its signature Khoye-wali Barfi from pure milk and desi ghee slow-cooked, unchanged, and unmistakable.


Rafiq Sweets and the timeless Barfi of old Lahore

MUMBAI: Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood music through the 1970s and 80s, died Sunday in Mumbai aged 92, her family said. Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of &quot;extreme exhaustion&quot; and chest infection. &quot;My mother passed away today (Sunday). Her last rites will be held tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,&quot; her son Anand Bhosle told reporters. Bhosle recorded more than 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages over a seven‑decade career. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was &quot;deeply saddened&quot; by her death. &quot;Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world,&quot; he said in a post on X. &quot;She will continue to inspire generations, and her songs will forever echo in people&#39;s lives.&quot; Born on September 8, 1933, to a musical family, Bhosle began singing as a child alongside her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, after their father&#39;s death. Often compared to Mangeshkar &mdash; revered as &quot;India&#39;s nightingale&quot; who died in 2022 &mdash; Bhosle forged her own path, embracing genres from pop to folk. Her early life was marked by struggle, including a turbulent marriage at 16. She went on to become one of Indian cinema&#39;s most versatile and celebrated voices, receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and earning two Grammy nominations. Bhosle continued collaborating with global artists well into her later years, including a recent feature on British virtual band Gorillaz&#39;s album The Mountain (&quot;Parvat&quot;). Beyond music, she nurtured her passion for food, launching her &quot;Asha&#39;s&quot; restaurant chain in Dubai and Britain.

Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of "extreme exhaustion" and chest infection.



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